Australia
the land down under
Build a route around surf towns, reef days, energetic cities and the vast distances that make Australia a trip of its own.
The honest overview
Easy to love, hard to rush.
Known as the Land Down Under, Australia is famed for the Great Barrier Reef, vast national parks and laid-back beach towns, attracting backpackers, working holidaymakers and gap year travellers alike from all corners of the world. It's a go-to working holiday destination thanks to its working holiday visa, a well-established East Coast hostel circuit and local wages that help fund the trip, but high costs and huge distances mean it rewards months rather than weeks.
Start in Sydney and head north up the East Coast to Cairns, the classic first route with the most hostels and easiest transport. With more time, add Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road to the south, or fly to Perth for the quieter West Coast. Treat Uluru, Darwin and Kakadu, and Tasmania as separate add-ons reached by flight or ferry.
Season by season
What each month means for your trip
Australia's weather splits in two: the south has four seasons, while the tropical north has a wet season and a dry season. These are useful planning patterns, not guarantees.
Southern summer, northern wet season
Hot, dry days suit Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Tasmania, but this is also the peak bushfire period, so check fire danger ratings before bushwalking. The north is in its wet season, with heavy rain, cyclone risk and road closures across the Top End and the Kimberley. Christmas and the summer school holidays push up coastal prices, so book beach hostels and campervans early.
Cooler south, wet season easing
Warm, settled days make the south comfortable, and crowds thin once the summer holidays end. The northern wet season eases through April, though some Top End roads and parks can stay closed. Easter brings a short price rise, so check the dates before booking.
Northern dry season, southern winter
Warm, dry, sunny days settle over Cairns, Darwin and Broome, while the Red Centre has mild days and cold nights. The south turns cool and wetter, with snow in the Victorian and New South Wales Alps and whale watching beginning along the east coast. This is peak season in the north, so book Kakadu, Whitsundays and Uluru trips ahead.
Spring in the south, still dry up north
The south warms up, Western Australia's wildflowers are in season and the north stays dry. By October the Top End turns very hot and humid ahead of the wet. It's the strongest window for a route covering both halves of the country, but check fire danger ratings as the bushfire season begins.
Warming fast, storms building up north
The south is warm and pleasant before the summer crowds arrive. Up north, storms build, cyclone season begins and marine stingers make netted beaches or a stinger suit the safer choice on Queensland's tropical coast. Check park and road openings before planning anything in the Top End.
Check the exact region, not only a national forecast. Southern bushfire danger, the northern wet season and tropical cyclones don't follow the same timetable.
Cost of day to day travel
Budget more for cities, tours and long hops
Australia costs more than most backpacking destinations. A dorm and supermarket budget works day to day, but Sydney beds, reef trips, Outback tours and domestic flights push the total up quickly.
Dorm bed, meals cooked in the hostel kitchen, free beaches and coastal walks, and local buses.
Well located dorm, a mix of cooking and eating out, a few drinks and room for a paid activity every few days.
Reef trips, multi-day Outback and K'gari tours, Sydney nightlife and domestic flights can double the daily total.
Card and contactless work widely. Check any payment fee before confirming, keep a little cash for markets and remote stops, and check whether your card charges foreign transaction fees.
Key backpacker routes
Find the route that feels right for you
There's no single route you need to follow. Most backpackers start in Sydney and head north up the East Coast to Cairns, or south to Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road, then fly out to the West Coast, the Outback or Tasmania. Let your time, budget and the season shape the journey, and expect distances to decide more than they would elsewhere.
Two to three week first trip
Balanced pace
Spend a few days in Sydney, then pick one stretch of coast rather than trying to see it all. Head north through Byron Bay, Noosa and the Whitsundays towards Cairns, or south to Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road. These are starting points, not a fixed itinerary; flying one long leg saves days and keeps a buffer before your flight home.
Three to four week backpacking route
More variety
With more time, travel the full East Coast from Sydney to Cairns by bus or campervan, stopping for K'gari, the Whitsundays and the reef. Add Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road at the start, or fly to Uluru or Alice Springs for a few days in the Outback. Keep spare days, as tours and island trips run to fixed schedules.
One to two month slow route
Room to improvise
Combine the East Coast with Melbourne, Tasmania and the Red Centre, choosing how long to stay as you go. Add Darwin and Kakadu in the dry season, or fly to Perth and follow the West Coast north towards Exmouth and Broome. Many working holidaymakers break the trip up with a few weeks of work, then carry on.
Australia and New Zealand
Wider Oceania
Many backpackers pair Australia with New Zealand, flying across the Tasman from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. Both countries offer working holiday visas to young UK citizens, so some spend a year in each. Check the current visa rules and budget for a second expensive country.
Main destinations and attractions
Where to spend your days
Pick a connected group and leave room for hostel friendships and changing plans. Australia rewards depth more than a checklist of stops.
East Coast
Sydney to Cairns is Australia's main backpacker corridor, with the most hostels, tours and bus connections. Melbourne sits to the south and links to Sydney by bus, train or a short flight.
Sydney Opera House. Photo: Diliff / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Sydney
The Opera House, the harbour and the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk make Sydney the natural arrival base. Dorms cost more here than elsewhere on the East Coast, so book early and take the train to the Blue Mountains for a cheaper day out.
Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road. Photo: Ccalovejj / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road
Laneway cafés, street art, live music and sport give Melbourne a different feel from Sydney. The Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles work best as a one or two night trip rather than a rushed day tour.
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Main Beach and Cape Byron. Photo: Ank Kumar / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Byron Bay
Surf beaches, the Cape Byron lighthouse walk and a relaxed, social scene make Byron an easy place to slow down. Hostels fill quickly in summer and around festivals, so book ahead.
K'gari beach. Photo: Antoine Beauvillain / Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
Noosa and K'gari
Noosa's coastal national park and gentle surf make an easy stop before K'gari, the largest sand island in the world. Most backpackers visit K'gari on a guided 4WD tour from Rainbow Beach or Hervey Bay, as the sand tracks need experience and a vehicle permit.
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays. Photo: Timothy Wakeham / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays
Airlie Beach is the base for sailing trips to Whitehaven Beach and the Whitsunday Islands. Multi-day boat trips sell out in peak season, and a stinger suit is worth wearing from roughly November to May.
Great Barrier Reef near Mackay. Photo: Sentinel Hub / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef
Cairns is the main gateway to the outer reef for snorkelling, diving and liveaboard trips, with the Daintree Rainforest to the north. Choose an operator for its reef sites and safety standards, not price alone.
West Coast
Western Australia is huge and far quieter than the east, with long drives between stops. Most backpackers fly into Perth and hire a campervan to head north.
Rottnest Island. Photo: Mel.s.willson / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Perth and Rottnest Island
Perth has city beaches, Fremantle's markets and ferries to Rottnest Island, where you can cycle between bays and spot quokkas. Don't touch or feed them, as it's against the rules and fines apply.
Dugongs at Ningaloo Reef. Photo: Nicocolll / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Exmouth and Ningaloo Reef
Ningaloo sits close to shore, so you can snorkel straight from beaches like Turquoise Bay. Whale shark tours run from around March to July, and reaching Exmouth means a long drive or a flight from Perth.
Cable Beach, Broome. Photo: Teresa / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Broome
Cable Beach sunsets and the Staircase to the Moon make Broome the gateway to the Kimberley. Plan it for the dry season, as heat and wet season rain close many Kimberley roads from around November to April.
Northern Territory and the Outback
The Red Centre and the tropical Top End are far apart, so most people fly between them or join a tour. Plan around the season, as summer heat in the centre and the wet season up north shape what's open.
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Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Photo: Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Uluru-Kata Tjuta
Uluru and the domes of Kata Tjuta are the heart of the Red Centre, best seen at sunrise and sunset. Climbing Uluru has been banned since 2019, and some sites ask visitors not to take photos out of respect for Anangu culture.
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Kakadu National Park. Photo: Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Darwin and Kakadu
Darwin's sunset markets are the start point for Kakadu and Litchfield, with waterfalls, rock art and wetlands. Crocodiles live in many rivers and waterholes, so only swim where signs say it's safe.
Tasmania
Australia's island state packs mountains, beaches and wilderness walks into a compact loop. Reach it by flight or the Spirit of Tasmania ferry from Geelong, and hire a car to get around.
Hobart waterfront. Photo: Lautreca11 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hobart
A harbourside old town, the MONA gallery and views from kunanyi/Mount Wellington make Hobart an easy base. Saturday's Salamanca Market is the simplest way to try Tasmanian produce.
Cradle Mountain, Tasmania. Photo: David McCormack / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Cradle Mountain and Freycinet
The Dove Lake circuit at Cradle Mountain and Wineglass Bay at Freycinet show Tasmania's wild side. Weather changes fast even in summer, so carry warm layers and a rain jacket.
Getting around
Compare time, comfort and cost
Australia's distances mean flying or driving often makes more sense than sticking to buses and trains for the whole trip – factor that into how you plan your route and budget.
Rideshare/Taxi
Uber operates in every major city, and taxis are widely available in the same places. Regional towns are hit or miss for either.
Bus
Greyhound Australia runs the main East Coast hop-on-hop-off network, the standard way backpackers link Sydney to Cairns without flying every leg.
Train
Long-distance trains like the Indian Pacific (Sydney–Perth) and the Ghan (Adelaide–Darwin) are a scenic, expensive experience rather than a budget option – most backpackers fly or bus instead and treat these as a one-off splurge if at all.
Plane
Domestic budget airlines cover the long east-west and northern hops far faster and often cheaper than any overland option – Sydney to Perth is a few hours by air against several days on the road.
Download offline maps, keep key booking details available without data and avoid placing an international departure immediately after a fragile overland transfer.
Culture and events
Events worth knowing about
Dates can shift, so verify the current programme before building a trip around an event in Australia.
A national public holiday marking the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet, marked with fireworks, concerts and citizenship ceremonies in most major cities.
One of the world's biggest Pride parades, with a costumed march down Oxford Street and a season of parties and events around it.
A light festival that turns the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and buildings across the CBD into large-scale light projections and installations, running most evenings for around three weeks.
A week of events celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements, with community events, exhibitions and performances held nationwide.
Australia's biggest horse race, known as "the race that stops a nation" – much of the country pauses to watch, and Melbourne itself gets a public holiday for it.
Confirm the official programme, accommodation pressure and transport changes before committing non-refundable plans.
Australian food
Discover the flavours that make Australia memorable
Australia doesn't have one defining national cuisine so much as a strong café culture and a multicultural food scene shaped by waves of migration, with fresh seafood a genuine highlight along the coast.
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Meat Piethe classic bakery and servo staple, best with tomato sauce.Photo: Neil. Moralee / flickr, BY-NC-ND 2.0 -
Barramundithe fish you'll see on menus up and down the coast, mild and reliably good.Photo: avlxyz / flickr, BY-SA 2.0 -
Vegemite on toastdivisive and salty, worth trying once even if you don't finish the jar.Photo: ultrakml / flickr, BY 2.0 -
Chiko Rolla deep-fried Aussie takeaway classic, more novelty than fine dining.Photo: ultrakml / flickr, BY 2.0 -
Tim Tamsthe biscuit backpackers end up buying by the packet.Photo: denisbin / flickr, BY-ND 2.0 -
BBQ prawnsthe "shrimp on the barbie" cliché, but genuinely common at beach barbecues.Photo: Lachlan Hardy / flickr, BY 2.0 -
Anzac biscuitsoat and golden syrup biscuits with WWI-era origins, sold everywhere.Photo: SUPERADRIANME / flickr, BY 2.0 -
Flat White & Magic CoffeeMelbourne and Sydney both claim to have invented it, and the café culture built around it is real.Photo: humanstatuebodyart / flickr, BY-SA 2.0
Visible turnover is a useful guide. Explain allergies carefully and carry a translated note when an ingredient could cause a serious reaction.
Hostels
Choose the atmosphere, not just the bed
Australia's hostel scene runs from big social chains to small independents, and what suits you depends on whether you want a party base or somewhere quieter to actually sleep.
Travellers Oasis
Cairns, AustraliaProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Noosa Flashpackers
Noosa, AustraliaProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Surf Inn Boutique Backpackers
Gold Coast, AustraliaProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Wake Up! Bondi Beach
Sydney, AustraliaProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Wake Up! Byron Bay
Byron bay, AustraliaProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Bounce Melbourne
Melbourne, AustraliaProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Wake Up! Sydney Central
Sydney, AustraliaProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Flinders Backpackers Melbourne
Melbourne, AustraliaProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Nomads Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach, AustraliaProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Bunk Brisbane
Brisbane, AustraliaProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Nomads St Kilda
Melbourne, AustraliaProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Tequila Sunrise Podstel Brisbane
Brisbane, AustraliaProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Little Drifter Glebe
Sydney, AustraliaProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Bondi Beach Backpackers
Sydney, AustraliaProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →What you need to pack
Pack for the route, not every possibility
Australia spans tropical and temperate climates. Pack light, then add layers for the season and regions on your route.
Climate and clothing
Strong sun and changeable temperatures make versatile layers more useful than extra outfits.
- Breathable tops and shorts
- A warm layer for southern winters and Outback nights
- Sun hat and UV-rated sunglasses
- High-SPF sunscreen
Rain and terrain
Keep essential gear dry on wet-season, coastal and hiking days.
- Lightweight rain shell
- Compact dry bag
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Swimwear for beach and reef days
Hostels and travel days
Frequent transfers are easier with a compact kit and clothes you can wash along the way.
- Small padlock for hostel lockers
- Type I plug adapter
- Reliable power bank
- Reusable water bottle
Activities and health
Add specialist items only for the activities you have booked.
- Trail shoes for planned hikes
- Insect repellent for tropical routes
- Basic first-aid kit
- Personal medication
Language
A few Australian English phrases go a long way
English is Australia's national language, so there's no translation phrasebook needed here the way there is elsewhere on this list.
| English | Say it in Australian English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | "G'day" | guh-day |
| Goodbye | "See ya" or "Catch ya later" | — |
| Yes / No | "Yeah" / "Nah" | — |
| How are you? | "How ya going?" | — |
| Thanks | "Cheers" or "Ta" | — |
| Friend | "Mate" | — |
| Barbecue | "Barbie" | — |
| Afternoon | "Arvo" | — |
| Bring your own (alcohol) | "BYO" – common on restaurant signage, meaning you can bring your own wine or beer, sometimes for a small corkage fee. | — |
| Thank you | Thanks / Cheers | thanks / cheers |
| Use the phrases respectfully: Local usage varies by region. A respectful attempt is usually appreciated, and a translation app is useful for complex questions. | ||
Visa requirements
Check the rule for your passport
Entry rules depend on nationality, journey and length of stay. Confirm the current rule before booking, then check it again shortly before departure.
Check your exact requirements
Use Sherpa to review entry requirements for your passport and journey. Also confirm passport validity, permitted stay, proof of onward travel and any current arrival-form requirements.
Vaccinations
Make the advice fit your route
Vaccination and health advice depends on your route, duration, medical history and activities.
Review current CDC guidance
Read the current CDC Australia traveller guidance, then discuss personal recommendations with a qualified clinician.
Arrange appropriate travel insurance and keep policy details available offline. Consider the practical risks created by climate, altitude, insects, animals, water activities and road travel on your specific route.
Safety and common scams
Standard caution, specific habits
Australia is a safe country for solo travellers by most measures, and street crime isn't the main thing to plan around here – the environment is.
Farm work exploitation
Backpackers on a working holiday visa needing to complete regional work for a second-year visa are sometimes targeted by employers offering unpaid trial days, unsafe conditions or pay well below minimum wage, knowing visa pressure makes people reluctant to complain. Use Fair Work Ombudsman resources to check your rights before accepting regional work.
Fake share-house listings
In Sydney and Melbourne especially, scammers post rental listings for rooms that don't exist and ask for a deposit or bond before a viewing. Never pay before seeing a place in person or via a verified video call.
Commission-heavy tour add-ons
Some hostel front desks push specific tour operators hard because of the commission, not because they're the best option. Worth comparing prices independently before booking anything big (reef trips, Uluru tours) on the spot.
Car buy-back promises
Backpacker car markets sometimes advertise a guaranteed buy-back price that doesn't materialise as promised when you actually try to sell. Get any buy-back agreement in writing, or budget as if you'll need to sell independently.
None of it should put you off the trip
Australia remains one of the more relaxed, lower-hassle countries on this list, just a bigger and pricier one.
On the scam side, it's a shorter list than most:
Sources and feedback
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